Photograph courtesy of Jim Johnson
William â Billâ Walker was a 1971 Los Gatos High School graduate who coached Little League for years and retired from the Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Department in 2003. He passed away Aug. 17.

Friends and family are remembering retired Los Gatos-Monte Sereno police sergeant and Little League coach William “Bill” Walker, Sr., who passed away Aug. 17 from a heart attack. Although Walker spent most of his life in Los Gatos, he moved to Gilbert, Ariz., after retiring from the police force in 2003.

He was 64 years old.

“My dad moved to Los Gatos when he was a young child,” son William Walker, Jr. wrote in an email. “He went to Blossom Hill Elementary, Fisher Middle School and graduated from Los Gatos High School in 1971.”

Son Jack Walker said, “He was a football highlight for Los Gatos and a huge presence in the Little League community.”

J.J. Magoo’s owner Jim Johnson can attest to that–there are Little League plaques in the restaurant’s dining room that picture the Walker boys with their dad and Johnson following Little League championship wins in 1992, ’93 and ’97.

“He cared about the players,” Johnson said, “but he also disciplined them and didn’t tolerate any messing around. If we were losing he’d walk into the dugout and say, ‘We don’t waste our time out here so you guys can fool around. Get your butts out there and play ball.’ The kids were scared, but they loved him.”

Johnson added, “In terms of baseball, I was the good cop and he was the bad cop.”

William Walker said his dad’s career as a police officer started “around 1976,” when he went to work for the San Jose Police Department.

He worked for the Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Department from November 1998 to September 2003.

“My dad was an amazing husband, father and best friend to many, including myself,” William Walker said.

Jack Walker added, “Our dad was an incredible role model for us and everyone he encountered. It’s a real blessing to have someone like him as a father. I am truly grateful.”

Walker is survived by Patricia Walker, his wife of nearly 36 years, sons William and Jack, stepsons Jason and Jeremy Cook, as well as four grandchildren and five sisters.

Services will be held Sept. 10 at 1 p.m. at the Valley of the Sun Mortuary & Cemetery in Chandler, Ariz.